PawSox won't play final season in R.I.

Photo | Grant Welker The structure of Polar Park is taking shape in Worcester about 10 months before play is set to begin.

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The Pawtucket Red Sox had been gearing up for this to be their final season in Rhode Island before moving to Worcester. But thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, it appears the team won't have a typical final farewell at its longtime home.

The PawSox said Tuesday the International League won't play baseball this year because of the pandemic. Minor League Baseball said it won't play any games this year, affecting other teams in New England including the Lowell Spinners, the Hartford Yard Goats and Norwich Sea Unicorns in Connecticut, the Manchester Fisher Cats in New Hampshire, and the Portland Sea Dogs in Maine.

The news comes a day after the soon-to-be Worcester Red Sox gave a media tour of their new Worcester home, the $132-million Polar Park. Construction on the ballpark was delayed for about a month this spring because of the pandemic, but the team and city officials are still optimistic they can begin play in Worcester next April.

The team, the top minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have played in Pawtucket for 50 years. Their 78-year-old home, McCoy Stadium, has been used this year for outdoor on-field dining as a way to utilize the park for fans. The team said it hopes to have a proper farewell to McCoy at some point.